Observing that distance teaching so far conducted at Britain's Open University is based on an authoritarian model with teacher-developed multimedia programed courses, the author proposes a new approach to such correspondence-type courses in which a framework is provided for students to organize their own learning using their own methods. (JT)

The activities of Quebec's Tele-Universite are described and compared with those of Britain's Open University from which it differs in emphasis on cooparation with other organizations and on regional study groups. Now one of the ten units of the University of Quebec, it offers continuing education programs for teachers and an adult education…

Reports a 1974 survey of the 12,800 students taking courses in Britain's Open University to determine viewing and listening figures for each course and to compare the figures for different transmission times and the different faculties (disciplines). The average student watched about two-thirds of the TV and heard about half of the radio programs…

The use of science laboratories as an instructional tool is reexamined from the points of view of the underlying premises, purposes, and practicality of laboratory instruction. Different approaches to laboratory instruction are outlined, and their relevance for the Dutch Open University's program of distance education is discussed. (Author/MSE)

The plans for the physical expansion of the University of Witwatersrand cannot be divorced from its goals. In planning a new campus area, there is an underlying philosophy of growth to accommodate all sectors of society and to serve the total community of which the university is part. (MLW)

A study of alternative uses for Open University instructional materials, conducted by both a large-scale survey of current use of the materials and by examination of one alternative use plan, is reported. The materials were intended for use in a course on caring for older people. (MSE)

Argues that needs research generally is not a good means for deciding whether a new institute should be or can be established and provides examples of needs research undertaken by the Staff Bureau for Research and Evaluation of the Dutch Open University. (Author/MBR)

Summarized the reports of the committees that have been involved in planning all types of adult education programs in Finland. (JOW)

The purpose of this study was to identify the significant characteristics of distance education students who have dropped-out or continuously and successfully progressed in the distance education program at the NOU of Taiwan. The major focus was based on the found factors which might relate to the students' decisions for dropping out or staying in…

Author believes that if the Open University continues to be successful, it can hardly fail to exert a powerful influence on the future development of higher education in Great Britain. (Author/HB)

An interview with Walter Perry, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, in which he discusses his educational philosophy. (HB)

The open university is a flexible adult education system which utilizes and interdisciplinary approach and embraces a wide range of subjects. Each course consists of correspondence packages, a series of television and radio programs, organized tutorials and counseling systems. The author explores the establishment of such open universities in this…

The director of the Open University's Institute of Educational Technology describes the work of the staff in four major areas: analyzing what is involved in subject-matter competence; diagnosing Open University students' abilities; creating conditions for improved instruction; and measuring achievement. (Editor/AK)

In well-established disciplines there is largely traditional agreement about what subject areas should be included. When new disciplines emerge, decisions about their content seem more problematic. This article answers the questions of what distance education as an academic teaching discipline should cover. (Availability: Open University, 70…

Describes a personalized system for student-paced administration of correspondence programs which responds to the individual needs of the students in matters regarding registration, sending out materials, and receiving materials from them. The two systems used by the tutors and the students for recording all such correspondence are presented. (EAO)